Deceleration signal



Oct 30, 1951 R. P. MCNERNEY DECELERATION SIGNAL Filed DSC. l, 1949atented ct. 30, `1.951

DECELERATION SIGNAL Robert P. McNerney, Sharpsville, Pa., assignor offifty per cent to Charles J. Songer, Farrell, Pa.

Application December 1, 1949, Serial No. 130,497

3 Claims.

This invention relates to signals and more particularly to adeceleration signal for use in connection with motor vehicles.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a decelerationindicator for motor vehicles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a decelerationsignal incorporating a self-leveling mechanism operating by inertia toclose an electrical circuit upon the deceleration of a vehicle in whichthe device is positioned.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of adeceleration signal incorporating means movable by deceleration of themotor vehicle to close an electrical circuit.

The deceleration signal shown and described herein comprises animprovement in the art of such signals in that a simple trouble-freemechanism is disclosed which may be attached to a motor vehicle invarious locations and which will be operative when connected with apower source and a signal light on the vehicle in indicatinginstantaneously any deceleration in the vehicle. The deceleration signaldisclosed herein is capable of maintaining its normal inoperativeposition despite any inclination of the motor vehicle to which it isattached.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details or construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away in cross section.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is'a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

By referring to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular it will be seenthat the deceleration signal comprises a liquid-tight housing IB havinga closure I I secured thereto in a liquid-tight manner and specificallyagainst an outturned flange I2 on the housing I0 by reason of aplurality of fasteners I3. Secured to the closure II and dependingtherefrom there are a pair of oppositely disposed brackets I4--I4 whichare engaged adjacent their lowermost ends by a pivot pin I5 and spacedwith respect to one another thereby. An arm I6 is engaged upon the pivotpin I5 and has the uppermost end Il thereof formed in a radius andsecured to a float IS. Midway between the upper and lowermost ends ofthe arm I there is a struck-out tongue IS and a matching oppositelydisposed radius 29 formed in the arm to provide a cage for a mercuryswitch 2 I.

The housing I is completely filled with liquid such as a light oil whichis positioned in the housing I through a ller pipe 22 which is providedwith a cap 23. The ller pipe 22 extends upwardly from the closure I Iand with the cap 23 forms an air space above the level of the iiuid inthe housing Ill so that the liquid level is always maintained at a pointabove the highest portion of the hOusing I. Thus, the float I8 holds thearm I in vertical position and the mercury switch 2| in horizontalposition. The mercury switch 2| is so arranged that it is in operativeor open position when horizontally disposed and so that it must beinclined sdewardly and downwardly toward the right as seen in Figure lin order to close a circuit therethrough. Circuit wires 24 and 25 leadfrom the mercury switch 2l to terminals 26 and 2T which extend throughthe closure I I and are insulated with respect thereto. The circuitwires 24 and 25 are flexible conductors so as not to interfere with thetilting movement of the switch as imparted thereto by the float I8 aswill be subsequently explained in connection with the operation of thedevice. As illustrated in Figure 1, the terminals 26 and 2l areconnected with an incandescent bulb 223 and a power source 29 so thatthe mercury switch 2| Will, upon being closed as by being tilted, closethe circuit through the incandescent bulb 28 and thereby illuminate thesame.

By referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that thearms lc, the ficat Is and the switch 2l are positioned exactly midwaybetween the depending brackets Iiilll and are, therefore, free to moveon the pivot pin responsive to inertia imparted to the fi-oat at suchtime as the device is secured to a motor vehicle and acts responsive tothe acceleration or deceleration thereof.

In operation the device is preferably attached to the motor vehicle inthe vicinity of one of the circuit wires normally used in connectionwith the stop light of the vehicle with the stopl light switch and powersource as known in the art. The device then acts as a secondary switchor circuit closer in the stop light circuit and is thereby capable oflighting the stop light oi the vehicle well in advance of any actionresulting from the application of the brakes of the vehicle and thesubsequent closing of the usual stop light switch. For example, if theequipped motor vehicle is being driven along at a uniform rate of speed,the fluid will maintain the arm I6 in normal Vertical position and theswitch 2l in horizontal position and thereby open. This 'action ismaintaineddesp'ite any inclination of the motor vehicle as in going upor down a hill as the float I8, the arms I and the switch ZI all pivotfreely on the pivot pin I5. However, at such time as the motor vehiclebegins todeelerate, inertia of the float I8 causes the same to move tothe right, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, Y

which is the direction of the'fronto the vehicle and thereby tilts thearms I5 and the mercury switch 2| to move it to closed( circuit positionThe inertia of the mercury in the switchi is also utilized at the sametime to move toward the right end of the switch 2i at such time as thevehicle decelerates. Thus Van instantaneous deceleration warning isgiven as the closed circuit energizes the stop light of the vehicle.

At such time as the deceleration of the vehicle ends, the oat I8 againseeks its normal level, moves the arms I6 vertically and the switch 2i'to horizontal position and thereby opens the circuit. Acceleration ofthe vehicle tends only to move the float I8 to the left and therebytilts the mercury switch away from open position so that inertia of themercury therein is unable to cause the same to flow sufficiently toreach the contacts and close the circuit therethrough. It will beobserved that there is at no time any flow of the uid in the housing IBand in which the entire mechanism or the device is submerged. There is,therefore, no false action of the deceleration signal such as wouldoccur if the device were responsive in operation or adjustment to theiiuid level in the housing. It will also be seen that the device may beinexpensively constructed and that all of the working parts areassembled through the closure I I and then positioned in the housing I0by the positioning and securing lof the closure EI thereto.

' It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention havebeen met by the deceleration signalV herein disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:`

1. A deceleration signal comprising a liquid lled housing having aremovable closure forming its top portion, bracketsdepending from saidclosure into said liquid filled housing and a pivot pin spacing the saidbrackets at their lowermost ends, an arm pivoted to said pivot pinbetween the said brackets and a float secured to the upper end of thesaid arm so as to maintain the same in normal vertical position,` atubular mercury switch element positioned horizontally on the said armabove the said pivot pin, the said switch being responsive in closing tomovement of the arm and float resulting from inertia overcoming thenormal floating position thereof.

2. A deceleration signal actuating device comprising a liquid filledhousing, a pivot pin positionedV in the lower central portion of thesaid housing, an arm pivoted to said pivot pin and a float secured tothe upper end of said arm so as to maintain the same in normal verticalposi,d tion, a tubular mercury switch element positioned horizontally onthe said arm above the said pivot pin, the said switch being responsivein closing to movement of the arm and float resulting from inertiaovercoming the normal floating position thereof.

3. A deceleration signal actuating device oomprising a liquid filledhousing, brackets on one Wall of s aid housing` extending into the lowercentral area thereof, a pivot pin spacing the brackets at theirlowermost ends, an arm pivoted to said pivot pin between the saidbrackets and a float secured to the uppery end of the said arm so as tomaintain the same in vertical position, a tubular mercury switch elementpositioned horizontally on the said arm belowthe said float, the saidswitch being responsive in closing to movement of the arm and floatresulting from inertia overcoming the normal floating position thereof.

ROBERT P. MCNERNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of- .record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

